Posted on September 15, 2009 at 7:25am.
Faith requires us to act and respond in ways that are not normal. Once when Jesus was traveling with the disciples in a boat a violent storm overtook them. Matthews account says “waves swept over the boat.” Their response was to be afraid - no kidding! If you put me in a boat and waves were washing over it I would not only be afraid, I would also be losing my lunch. Jesus responds with “You of little faith, why are you so afraid.” Somehow his presence and their faith in him should have been enough to calm their fear. I wonder if his presence in our lives is enough for us?
Posted on September 14, 2009 at 6:38am.
Exodus 1:8 says a new king came into power in Egypt and that meant change. Well no one likes change, especially when it brings things and ideas we don’t like. In the case of the Israelites it meant radical lifestyle change for the worse. What is hard to see in times like that is - God is still in control. That reminder won’t always explain my circumstances or make my life pleasant but it will lead me toward what is true. It will remind me where I place my trust.
Posted on September 11, 2009 at 8:10am.
One thing all of us have in common is we have a reputation. A reputation is a fragile and yet valuable item to protect. Listen to the words of the author of Proverbs:
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” Gold was recently selling for $1,000, I wonder what price we would but on a good reputation?
Posted on September 4, 2009 at 7:55am.
I Kings tell the story of Elijah and his courageous following of the Lord as he took on Ahab and Jezebel. Many of us are familiar with the confrontation on Mount Carmel. But how many of us know Obadiah? His following the Lord looked very different than Elijah. He actually served in the palace of King Ahab. I wonder how many followers of the Lord would have judged him and criticized him for being in that role? However what he did was to hid 100 prophets of the Lord in caves and managed to get them food in a severe famine! Not an easy task. Obadiah and Elijah both served the Lord it just looked very different.
Posted on September 2, 2009 at 7:42am.
I ran across another example of how Jesus looked into the eyes of people. Mark 10 tells of the encounter of Jesus and the young man who had a whole lot of money. He comes with his questions about eternal life and his resume of how good he has been but what stood out to me was verse 21. “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” The Message puts it this way - “Jesus looked hard in the eye and loved him.” I want to challenge us today to look people in the eye and see them the way Jesus does.
